Philosophers and their ideas
We can arrive at true knowledge about the first causes or axioms by using our "nous" or intuition
What is Aristotle's approach to finding first causes that deductive reasoning can be build on?
What is the key argument of the sociology of science and the Strong Programme
His strong rejection of the perceived ideological and dogmatic thought of Marxism and Psychoanalysis
Why did Popper develop a "critical rationalism" and falsification as demarcation criterion?
Questions about the nature of being and the substance of things
What does ontology address?
To rise above the various idols clouding our judgement we need to use the inductive method
That science should focus on (logical) analytic a priori, and (empirical) synthetic a posteriori statements, the latter which need to be verifiable
To come up with way of thinking about society that could end the disorder surrounding the French Revolutions
What was Comte's motivation to develop a positivist perspective for the social sciences?
If formulated right, you can always find evidence in favour of your theory
Why did Popper argue that "verifiability" needs to be replaced with "falsifiability" to demarcate real from pseudo-science
We may have "innate" knowledge, but it may not necessarily be true and needs to be tested against reality
How does Popper think about prior beliefs and their role in human reasoning?
There is a difference between studying inanimate objects and thinking and feeling humans?
What motivates the focus on "Verstehen" as method for the hermeneuticians, such as Dilthey (or Schütz)?
To reconcile skepticism with the religious doctrines of the catholic church
Why did Descartes, despite arguing for fundamental doubt, end his argument by appealing to a good God?
The basis for all (true) knowledge can be found in the mind and thinking (rather than sense data)
What does the philosophical position of "rationalism" entail (as opposed to empiricism)?
The innate structures of the mind precondition how we perceive reality, and thus we can make valid (generalising and causal) claims
What is one of the key conclusions of Kant's Critique of Practical Reason?
Objective observations are possible, and any true knowledge must be based on these
What does positivism entail?
To develop an account of science and scientific knowledge that is based on actual scientific practice, rather than pure theory?
What motivated the thinking of Thomas Kuhn and the sociologists of science associated with the "strong programme"?
We cannot objectively observe anything, even our most simple sensations are influenced by prior knowledge or ideas
What does the term "theory"-laden mean (cf Popper)?